Miley stormed toward her best friend, her face more red then it's ever been, her heart pacing, and her eyes narrowed. If Lilly didn't know her so well, she would of actually been afraid. She quickly retrieved her books for her next class, and shut her locker as Miley approached.
Lilly cleared her throat, "Um, you okay?"
Miley groaned loudly, causing a red-haired freshman boy to stare in fear. She rolled her eyes, and turned her attention back to Lilly. "Do you know what I just saw?!"
Lilly shook her head, her heart rate speeding up. Miley's never that mad. It had to be something serious. "No, what?!" She asked frantically.
Miley's eyes darkened and she had a deep scowl of her face. "Jacqueline," She spat out the name, "Our supposed friend, was just hooking-up with.." Miley trailed off, and her facial expression was no longer that of hatred. It was of sadness, maybe even guilt. She sighed, "Jake."
It stung, sure. Lilly knew she deserved it, though. Honestly, she wasn't surprised Jake had moved on so fast. She never really got the sense that he ever loved her, or even liked her, for that matter. It was a bitch to deal with, though; The school's golden couple - broken up and not even on speaking terms. To say the rumors going around school were ridiculous would be an understatement.
She sighed, and shrugged. "Shit happens." She said, and left Miley's mouth hanging open.
"You're not mad?" Miley asked, surprise coated her words.
Lilly shook her head, "It was coming, you know? Karma." She shrugged, "Too bad it had to be Jacqueline.. but, come on, she was never really our friend."
Miley bit her lip. "I guess.. but, Lils, you should know, I'm not the only one who saw. I bet the whole school knows by now."
"So? I'm already dead to them, Miley. I screwed up, and they loved it. I'm not perfect in their eyes anymore." She smiled. "But it's okay. Less for me to worry about."
Miley's eyes were wide with surprise. "Wait. You.. don't.. care?" She asked slowly.
Lilly smiled proudly, "Not anymore."
--
"How did you do it!?" Miley questioned, eyes bugged out, grabbing Oliver by the arm.
He looked around awkwardly, "Um. Do what?"
"Lilly! She's.. different. Good different." She explained.
Oliver furrowed his eyebrows. He relaxed a bit as Miley let him free of her grasp. "What are you talking about?"
She put her hands out, indicating she was about to tell a story. "Listen to this. Today, I told her like, social status breaking news, and guess what? She didn't care!" She grinned happily. "It's such a relief. Seriously, you're my hero."
"Why me, though?" He knew why.
Miley laughed. "Oh, you know why."
He felt no point in denying it, so all he did was grin like a big, happy idiot.
His happiness seemed to rub off on Miley. She smiled, "What are you doing for free period? Lilly's left already. To where, I don't know. She wouldn't tell me."
"God knows what she's doing." He chuckled, "But, uh, nothing really. I was gonna hang with Kyle in the English room. It's always empty there."
"Ooh. Empty room, huh? I see how you roll. Have you told Lilly yet?" She asked sarcastically, a grin plastered on her face.
Oliver rolled his eyes, "Ha, ha. Funny."
She giggled, "But seriously, what do you guys do there?"
He shrugged, "Make fun of people." He chuckled, "I don't know. Just to get away from all the idiots around here, I guess."
"Sounds good enough to me. Mind if I join you?" She smiled and raised her eyebrows.
He's never really talked to Miley, and always figured she was just some annoying preppy chick. She's comfortable to be around, he noted. And he was positive Kyle wouldn't mind. "I don't mind at all." He smiled.
Miley, Oliver, and Kyle sat on the floor of the English room, in a small circle, eating a bag of nacho cheese Doritos and drinking Pepsi. Miley popped a Dorito into her mouth and didn't start speaking until she finished chewing, "So," She started, looking towards Oliver, "How did you really get that?" She asked, pointing to his swollen eye.
Kyle furrowed his eyebrows, "He got jumped, Miley." He stated.
Miley rolled her eyes, "Yeah, right. Jake has marks on his face too. Have you seen his lip?" She raised her eyebrows, and Kyle's facial expression seemed to go from positive to suspicious. "Coincidence? I think not." She finished.
Kyle's head whipped towards Oliver, "Is this true!?"
"Wait.. what?" Oliver shook his head, completely out of the loop. "Is what true? I got jumped, dude. I told you that."
Miley groaned in frustration, "Sure you did. Lilly told me and her Jake broke up. You wouldn't of had anything to do with that, would you?" She asked suspiciously.
"Would you?!" Kyle butted in, acting as the second-hand interrogator to Miley.
He shook his head frantically, "No!"
"Why are you lying, Oliver?" Miley asked darkly.
"Yeah, Oliver. Why are you lying?" Kyle repeated.
Oliver sighed, and ran his fingers through his hair. "You two are ridiculous."
"But, we're right." Miley said, popping another chip into her mouth.
"Fine."
"Fine?"
"Fine."
"..Wait, so, you agree that we're right?" Kyle asked, his eyes wide. "You lied to me, man!"'
He shrugged innocently, "I'm sorry! I just didn't know if Lilly wanted people to know."
Miley sighed, and slumped back a bit. "Yeah, she didn't even tell me." She stated sadly, feeling bad that her best friend didn't share something so big with her.
Oliver's face fell, and he felt the need to comfort her. "Don't worry. You know she was gonna tell you eventually. It's Lilly, that's how she is."
Miley bit her lip, and nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right." She forgot about it instantly, "Now, spill." She demanded.
Oliver braced himself, and knew right then they'd be skipping their next class.
--
"Don't even think about peeking!" Lilly warned, her two hands covering Oliver's eyes as she led him outside.
She could sense Oliver's impatience. "Lilly," He whined, "Where are you taking me?"
She giggled. "The parking lot." She grinned, dropping her hands from his eyes when they reached her destination.
His eyebrows were tightly scrunched together, "The parking lot? That's the surprise?"
She rolled her eyes and pointed a perfectly manicured finger directly in front of them. He looked to where she was pointing, and a confused expression crossed his face. "What?" He questioned.
"Go look!" She pushed him forward.
He walked up to his car. There were balloons tied to wind-shield wipers and sitting on the hood was a perfectly wrapped box with a shiny, silver ribbon. He picked up the box slowly, as if he were afraid it would explode. "What is it?" He asked.
"Open it!" Lilly exclaimed, excitement rising within her.
He quickly un-tied the ribbon, and tore apart the wrapping paper. His mouth dropped when he saw what was inside. He looked up to her, slowly. "A PlayStation 3? Are you serious?"
"Yes, I'm serious! Do you like it?" Her smiled was so wide, it looked as if it could crack.
He nodded, "Of course I like it.." His voice dropped, "But, I can't take this, Lilly."
She sighed, and her shoulders dropped. "Why not?" She asked, and she sounded more annoyed then upset - it was as if she saw it coming.
"Because, this system cost about six-hundred dollars." He explained, wide-eyed.
"And?" She raised her eyebrows, and crossed her arms. "Oliver, you pretty much had the worst birthday of your entire life the other day, and it was my fault. I mean, look at your eye. I feel guilty every time I look at you! Please, just take the system."
He sighed, and ran his fingers through his hair. "It wasn't your fault. We've talked about this."
Lilly groaned in frustration. "Seriously, Oliver!? Yes it was! Stop being so damn nice and just admit it! I can handle it! Or at least just take the stupid PlayStation!"
He was silent for a minute, and looked as if he was trying to contain himself. "It was six-hundred dollars.." Was the only thing he had to say.
She tightly squeezed her fist together and it took everything she had in her not to yell at him. "Not to be a snob or anything, but you and I both know that money is not something I have to worry about."
He sighed. "You're not going to stop until I accept this, are you?"
She shook her head stubbornly. "Nope."
"Fine." He agreed, and placed the system into his trunk. Lilly smiled triumphantly.
Oliver rolled his eyes. The girl never gave up. He walked over to the balloons, which were all pastel colors. His face contorted into one of disgust. "Just help me get these off so I don't look like a tool."
She rolled her eyes, but did as she was asked.
Oliver was un-tying a bright purple balloon from his windshield wiper when he turned towards Lilly, "Is this were you went at free period? To get this stuff?"
Lilly grinned, and didn't look up from the knotted balloon. She nodded.
Oliver sighed, "Well.. I told Miley."
Her head whipped up immediately. "You told Miley what?" She asked nervously.
"You know, what happened. She knew something did. I told Kyle too."
Instead of seeming angry, like Oliver thought she would of been, she seemed sad. She sighed, "Is Miley mad at me? For not telling her?"
He shrugged, "I don't think so. She was a little upset, though. But, she understands how you are. She knows you just needed time."
"I hope so, I can't have her hating me."
"She doesn't." Oliver assured her, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Look," He pointed behind them, "There's Miley now. Go with her today, talk."
"But -"
"Go!" He demanded.
She smiled, and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "Thanks, Oliver."
He sighed, and watched her go off. He un-tied the last balloon from his windshield, a pink one with little hearts on it. He held on to it for a minute, took one last look at Lilly, and decided to keep just that one.
--
Gah. I needed this, just for an in-between chapter leading up to major events. I'm not sure how many chapters this story is going to have, but, I do know it's not ending too soon.
Look out for the next chapter.
P.S. - Reviews are nice :)
Love,
Steph